Supplemental Protein Requirements Beef Cows in Winter

In the commodity "Nutrient Synchrony: Poly peptide and Energy Working Together," we discussed how protein and free energy human activity synergistically in the rumen to booster animal performance: Each requires the other for peak function. We also mentioned how winter supplementation oftentimes consists of a protein supplement but that protein is not always the limiting food. In this article, we will talk nearly both protein and free energy supplementation and how to know which is the limiting nutrient and when to feed information technology.

Nutritional Needs for Spring- vs. Fall-Calving Cows

In a spring-calving system in the southern Great Plains, if warm-flavour forages are managed for grazing through the early role of the fallow season (stockpiling), cow maintenance requirements after weaning can be met going into Dec. Keep in mind forage type and maturity typically impact fodder quality.

In autumn-calving cows, poly peptide and energy requirements for lactation and maintenance are typically not met by warm-season stockpiled forages as they transition into dormancy. At this point, lactating cows will start to lose trunk condition. It's not unusual to hear someone talk about how their cows look a piffling "hard" after coming through winter, even though they fed a supplement. 9 times out of 10, this is because they were protein-forrard in supplementation all the way through wintertime.

Myth: Cows merely demand protein to maintain condition through the wintertime.

Permit'southward look at food requirements during the autumn/winter for both calving systems.

If you're on a spring-calving schedule with a February to April calving window (Figure i and 2, green line), you can await a moo-cow's nutrient requirements to be the lowest for both rough protein (CP) and energy (total digestible nutrients, TDN) shut to and following weaning around September/October.

If you're on a fall-calving schedule with a September to Nov calving window (Figure ane and ii, yellowish line), you can look a cow's nutrient requirements to be the highest for both CP and energy during the same time.

Example Scenario

For example, CP and energy requirements of a spring-calving moo-cow close to and following weaning driblet to approximately vi% (CP) and 46% (TDN) of total dry out matter intake (DMI) around September/October (see Effigy i and 2). In a fall-calving moo-cow, CP and TDN requirements during the first two months of lactation (September/October) are equally high as 10-12% CP and 60-65% TDN of total DMI (Effigy 1 and 2). This range in food requirements in a fall-calving cow during lactation is dependent on cow size, cow historic period, peak lactation potential and DMI.

For a spring-calving arrangement going into the fall, this gives many producers a sense of relief. They met high nutrient requirements during the growing flavour, were successful in meeting food needs throughout the summertime, weaned a good for you calf and now the cows can be self-sufficient until spring over again. For a fall-calving system going into the fall, the relief just concluded.

Free energy (TDN) Drops In Forage When Cow Needs It Most

As fall transitions into winter, the nutrients bachelor in virtually forages brainstorm to pass up, particularly energy. Skilful quality native pasture volition ordinarily concord CP fairly well during the dormant season and can meet much of a dry cow'due south CP requirements through fall and maybe early on winter. Even well-managed bermudagrass tin can hold CP levels through December, depending on how moisture the wintertime is.

Even so, it'due south important to remember that the dry cow is also the gestating cow and approximately 67% of fetal weight occurs during the last iii months of gestation. This requires a meaning amount of nutrients, specifically energy. Non only is the cow requirement now steadily increasing starting around Dec (again, considering calving flavour begins in February), just the fetus is starting to impose on rumen capacity as it grows, reducing her dry out matter intake.

Therein lies the puzzler: she is eating less just needs more. And while she may be lacking in protein, the initiation of that latter trimester initiates a switch in the limiting nutrient — energy, which is at present a priority.

Know Cattle Size and Provender Quality

In that location is no graph or chart that can be made to point you to the perfect supplement for the winter months. Information technology all relies heavily on two things: moo-cow type (size, historic period, stage of production and lactation potential) and forage (both quality and availability). It is disquisitional to know the size of your cattle rather than just guessing and to examination your forage in order to encounter requirements without overspending and underfeeding one nutrient or both.

In December:

• A 1,400-pound cow with xx-pound peak lactation and a February calving date requires 1.5 pounds more TDN per day (xiv.2 pounds vs. 12.half dozen pounds) and 0.15 pounds more CP per day (ii.i pounds vs. 1.86 pounds) than a 1,200-pound cow with the aforementioned lactation potential.
• A ane,200-pound not-lactating cow that is seven months pregnant with a Feb calving appointment requires 4.5 pounds less TDN per solar day (xi.8 pounds versus 16.iii pounds) and 1.2 pounds less CP per day (1.6 pounds versus two.eight pounds) than a 1,200-pound lactating moo-cow three months after calving.

Which Nutrient Is Needed?

In gild to know what nutrient is limiting, yous need to have a good understanding of the nutrients that you have bachelor and how much y'all have bachelor through the winter menstruation. Then based on animal blazon and stage of production, you can identify which food is limiting and how much. At that point, y'all can store for supplements that provide the right nutrients at a reasonable price.

For example: If you are a producer whose belongings and resources favor feeding range cubes and who is on a spring-calving schedule, it usually is most financially sound to feed a high-protein cube (30-38%) up until December and so switch to a less protein-dense cube (20-25%) up until calving. This fashion y'all tin can increase pounds of supplement to run across free energy requirements without overfeeding protein and overpowering your feed upkeep.

If you are feeding a commodity ration, your nutritionist may be more forward with a higher poly peptide base (cottonseed meal or soybean meal) early in the winter and incorporate more energy (corn or corn byproducts) closer to calving.

Virtually Cows Need Winter Supplement

Most cows in nearly production systems are going to crave some form of supplementation during winter in society to support and promote fetal development, too every bit to run into her own maintenance requirements. Every producer benefits from becoming more informed virtually the nutrients bachelor to cows in the pasture, likewise equally what the cow requires throughout the year relative to her size, product land and product potential.

Knowing when to invest in protein, or when to invest in energy, to meet cow requirements as they fluctuate is sure to yield a healthier, more productive herd and to increase the effectiveness of dollars invested in the cow herd.

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Source: https://www.noble.org/news/publications/ag-news-and-views/2020/november/winter-cow-supplementation-protein-and-energy-explained/#:~:text=In%20December%3A,with%20the%20same%20lactation%20potential.

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